Happiness In Reverse
The accused, Donald Maudsley, is an ordinary enough fellow as regards appearances. A little beard, rather beaky nose, fair hair tied back in a short pony tail. Of average height, or under. A melancholy man, but not unintelligent. An old Oriel man, in fact.
He has a way of telling his story in the third person, which I found rather irritating at first. It becomes evident that he suffers from dissociation of personality.
A transcript of his deposition runs as follows:
After gaining his degree, this little man, by name Donald Maudsley, went into Earth Sciences. He attended the Brazil Conference, after which he disappeared into the wilds of South America. This is the essence of his story.
From the archives
·
1792
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell XIV
the ancient tradition that the world will be consumed in fire at the end of six thousand years is true, as i have heard from hell.
for the cherub with his flaming sword is hereby commanded to leave is guard at tree of life; and when he does, the whole creation will be consumed and appear infinite and holy, whereas it now appears finite & corrupt.
this will come to pass by an improvement of sensual enjoyment.
but first the notion that man has a body distinct from his soul is to be expunged. this i shall do, by printing in the infernal method by corrosives, which in hell are salutary and medicinal, melting apparent surfaces away, and displaying the infinite which was hid.
if the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.
for man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow drinks of his cavern.
Read more of this excerpt...
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell XIV
the ancient tradition that the world will be consumed in fire at the end of six thousand years is true, as i have heard from hell.
for the cherub with his flaming sword is hereby commanded to leave is guard at tree of life; and when he does, the whole creation will be consumed and appear infinite and holy, whereas it now appears finite & corrupt.
this will come to pass by an improvement of sensual enjoyment.
but first the notion that man has a body distinct from his soul is to be expunged. this i shall do, by printing in the infernal method by corrosives, which in hell are salutary and medicinal, melting apparent surfaces away, and displaying the infinite which was hid.
if the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.
for man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow drinks of his cavern.
Read more of this excerpt...
WORDS TO LIVE BY
2005 ·
NON-FICTION
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